ABSTRACT
I) INTRODUCTION A grading system has been developed for regimen-related toxicity that excludes
complications due to infection or graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and measures toxicity due only to the transplant preparative regimen (Table 13.1.1). Eight organ systems (cardiac, bladder, renal, pulmonary, hepatic, central nervous system, mouth and gastrointestinal tract) are graded for toxicity from 0 (none) to IV (fatal). In general, grade I toxicity is mild and does not necessarily require medical interven tion, grade II toxicity is more severe and requires specific medical interventions and grade III toxicity is life-threatening. All patients undergoing bone marrow trans plantation are expected to develop grade I toxicity in at least one organ system and most patients will develop grade II toxicity. Toxicity is influenced not only by the intensity of the preparative regimen, but also by factors such as disease status and prior therapy, type of graft (allogeneic versus autologous) and drugs utilized for GVHD prophylaxis.
